French school; XIX century.

French school; XIX century.
"Charles IV of Bourbon".
Bronze.
Nineteenth century scale casting, from bronze by the architect and sculptor Manuel Tolsá (Villa de Elguera, Valencia 1757- Mexico City 1816).
Measurements: 49 x 54 x 19 cm.
This bronze equestrian sculpture represents the monarch Charles IV dressed in the idealized attire of a Roman emperor, evoking the classical iconography of imperial power and authority. The king appears mounted on a moving horse, whose dynamic posture provides a sense of contained and majestic strength, highlighting the figure of the sovereign as a symbol of dominion and stability.
The original work was made by the Spanish sculptor and architect Manuel Tolsá at the end of the 18th century, and is one of the most representative pieces of neoclassical art in America. Currently, the original sculpture is located in the Manuel Tolsá Square, in the Historic Center of Mexico City, in front of the National Museum of Art. Its style and proportions demonstrate the artist's technical mastery, as well as the influence of the European sculptural tradition applied to the viceregal New Spain context.
More than a simple commemorative image, this sculpture embodies an idealized vision of monarchical power, transferring to the public realm a visual narrative of legitimacy, grandeur and continuity with the heritage of the Roman Empire, very much in keeping with the enlightened ideals of the time.